The Pastorate Podcast

What does it take to lead with emotional and spiritual integrity?This week, Jason is joined by Rich Villodas—Lead Pastor of New Life Fellowship in Queens, NY—for a conversation on emotional health, interior transformation, and the pressures of leadership in the public eye. Drawing from his own journey and the legacy of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, Rich offers wisdom for pastors navigating both personal formation and public ministry.Rich shares about:Coming to faith in Queens and being discipled by his grandfatherHow Emotionally Healthy Discipleship shaped his leadershipThe difference between celebrity and celebrity-ism in church cultureWhy interior examination is essential for long-term ministry healthWhether you’re leading a congregation or discerning your next steps in ministry, this conversation invites you into a deeper, healthier way of pastoring.BiographyRich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large, multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. He is also a key speaker for Emotionally Healthy Discipleship—a movement that has touched hundreds of thousands of people. Rich graduated with a BA in pastoral ministry and theology from Nyack College. He went on to complete his Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. His award-winning book, The Deeply Formed Life, was released in September 2020. He and his wife, Rosie, have two beautiful children and reside in Queens, New York.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Guest NotesDeeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero  Show Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

What does it mean to return to the Lord’s Table with awe, unity, and reverence?This week, Jason is joined by Francis Chan—pastor, author, and church planter—for a powerful conversation on the sacredness of Communion, the pursuit of spiritual unity, and what it means to centre the Church around the presence of Jesus. Drawing from decades of ministry and a personal call to reimagine church gatherings, Francis offers a compelling vision for a Church marked by humility, love, and awe.Francis shares about:His journey planting house churches and ministering in Hong KongWhy Communion must reclaim its central place in our gatheringsThe cost of pursuing unity across theological and denominational linesHow reverence, reconciliation, and shared presence lead to renewalWhether you’re leading in a season of division or longing to see your church awakened to God’s presence, this conversation is a call to return to what matters most.Biography Francis Chan has been a pastor for over thirty years. He is a New York Times–bestselling author of several books, including Crazy Love, Letters to the Church, and Until Unity. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married nearly thirty years and co-authored You and Me Forever. Currently, Francis is in Northern California teaching & discipling the next generation of pastors and leaders.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Guest NotesWorld Vision's: Connected Generation Report Until Unity Book Show NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Every leader faces moments when vision dims and passion wavers. How do we sustain a long-term vision for ministry while leading with joy and conviction?This week, Shaila Visser, National Director of Alpha Canada, joins Jason Ballard to share insights from her leadership journey and what it looks like to empower others while staying grounded in God’s call. Together, they reflect on leading Alpha through seasons of renewal, investing in the next generation, and what the latest research is revealing about evangelism in Canada.Shaila shares about:Leading organizational change with courage and visionHow to release and cover young leaders for growthHer personal journey of renewal in evangelismWhy prayer and partnership with the Spirit are essential for missionKey insights from Alpha’s “State of Evangelism” reportWhether you’re navigating change, mentoring young leaders, or seeking renewed passion for evangelism, this episode is filled with wisdom, encouragement, and hope for the Church in Canada and beyond.BiographyShaila Visser is the National Director of Alpha Canada and the Global Senior Vice-President for Alpha International. She is the Executive Producer of both The Alpha Youth Film Series (2013) and The Alpha Film Series (2016), and currently holds positions on the Board of the Damascus Road Foundation and on the Board of Regent College-an International Graduate School in Vancouver.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Guest NotesWorld Vision's: Connected Generation Report Shaila's WebsiteAlpha CanadaShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

What does it look like to lead with humility and courage in a culture that’s skeptical of the Church?This week, Jason is joined by Danielle Strickland—pastor, author, and justice advocate—for a timely and honest conversation about repentance, gospel action, and empowering the next generation. Danielle invites pastors to move beyond defensiveness, embrace lament, and reflect deeply on how the Church can better embody the good news of Jesus.Danielle shares about:Her experiences confronting injustice within Church systemsWhy repentance and lament are vital to renewalHow the gospel calls us to both belief and actionWhat it means to truly empower young leaders for Kingdom workA hopeful path forward for leaders tired, discouraged, or disillusionedWhether you’re navigating criticism, wrestling with cultural change, or longing for a more authentic expression of faith, this conversation is a challenge—and a breath of fresh air.Biography Danielle Strickland’s aggressive compassion has served people firsthand in countries all over the world. From establishing justice departments and church plants, to launching global anti-trafficking initiatives, to creating new initiatives to mobilize people towards transformational spiritual life. Danielle trains, advocates, and inspires people to live differently through initiatives like: Amplify Peace, Brave Global, Infinitum, and Women’s Speaker Collective.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Guest NotesWorld Vision's: Connected Generation Report IMBY HomesWorld Vision Chosen InitiativeDanielle Strickland's websiteShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

What does the future of the Church look like—and how should we lead in a culture that’s rapidly changing?This week, Jason is joined by David Kinnaman (Barna) and Mark Sayers (Red Church) for a timely and data-driven conversation about young adults, church trends, and the kind of leadership the next generation needs. Drawing from Barna’s Connected Generation research, they explore how the pandemic accelerated spiritual shifts—and why the Church’s call to deep discipleship is more urgent than ever.David & Mark share about:Key insights from Barna’s research on Canadian Gen Z and MillennialsWhy many who left the Church during the pandemic were already on the edgeThe rise of resilient disciples and what makes them uniqueHow the Church can move from surface engagement to deep formationThe future of leadership: humble, courageous, and Spirit-dependentThis episode is a sober yet hope-filled invitation to lean into what God is doing in the refining of His Church—and to shepherd a generation hungry for depth, purpose, and the presence of Jesus.BiographiesDavid Kinnaman is the author of the bestselling books Faith For Exiles, Good Faith, You Lost Me and unChristian. He is president of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits, and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services. Since 1995, David has directed interviews with more than two million individuals and overseen thousands of U.S. and global research studies. He lives in California with his three children. Mark Sayers is the senior leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. He is passionate about spiritual renewal and the future of the church. Mark is the author of a number of books including Strange Days and Reappearing Church.  Mark lives in Melbourne with his wife, Trudi, his daughter, Grace, and twin boys, Hudson and Billy. PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Guest NotesConnected Generation ReportShow NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

What’s at stake when we talk about discipling young people? According to Kara Powell, the answer is everything. In this episode, Jason Ballard is joined by Kara—Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute and author of 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager—for a deeply insightful conversation on how the Church can respond to the challenges facing today’s youth.Together, they explore:The latest research on Gen Z’s spiritual formation and mental healthWhy youth ministry must be a whole-church priorityHow parents are the most influential disciplers—and how churches can support themPractical steps for senior pastors to invest in holistic youth ministryHow Jesus uniquely answers young people’s deepest questions about identity, belonging, and purposeWhether you’re a youth pastor, senior leader, or parent, this episode is packed with encouragement and practical insights to help you disciple the next generation with clarity and care.Biography Dr. Kara E. Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. The mission of FYI is to equip diverse leaders and parents so faithful young people can change our world. Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch”, Kara completed her PhD in Practical Theology from Fuller Seminary with a focus on Pastoral Role Expectations in 2000, an MDiv from Bethel Theological Seminary in 1994, and a BA degree with Honors from Stanford University in 1991. In addition to her roles at Fuller Seminary, Kara serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange, and volunteers in student ministries at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena. She is the author or co-author of 3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager (releasing August 2021), Faith in an Anxious World, Growing With, 18 Plus, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith Curriculum, Can I Ask That?, Deep Justice Journeys, Essential Leadership, Deep Justice in a Broken World, Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, and the Good Sex Youth Ministry Curriculum.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Show Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Keith Taylor has spent 43 years in pastoral ministry—including three decades leading Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton. In this episode, Keith joins Jason Ballard to reflect on his remarkable journey of ministry, church revitalization, and passing the baton to the next generation. He shares stories from his early years in Vernon, the missional roots of Beulah, and the intentional succession planning that led to Daniel Im becoming Lead Pastor.Keith opens up about how he kept his heart tender through the ups and downs of leadership, what it means to rediscover a church’s DNA, and his hope for the future of the church in Canada. Whether you're early in your ministry or nearing the finish line, this conversation is full of wisdom, humility, and vision. In This Episode:Leading through church revitalization and growthGoing back to the roots to discover your church’s callingWhy long-term friendships and rhythms matter for longevityInsights on succession and how to finish well in ministryEncouragement for the next generation of pastors in CanadaBiographyKeith Taylor served for 30 years as Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, recently passing on that role in Spring of 2021. Previously, Keith was lead pastor for 11 years at the Alliance Church in Vernon, BC. He is a passionate preacher, leader, and champion of people and enjoys continuing to be a part of Beulah after his retirement. He has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Jacquie, for 45 years. They have three married children and 6 awesome grandkids. Keith has served on the Ambrose University Board, Alpha Canada Board and numerous other denominational boards. He also has a passion for motorcycles and sailing.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Show NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Aaron White has spent decades embedded in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver—one of Canada’s most misunderstood neighbourhoods. In this episode, he joins Jason Ballard to share what he’s learned about presence, prayer, and what it really means to be the Church in your city.Aaron serves with 24-7 Prayer Canada, Westminster Theological Centre, and Jacob’s Well, and his life challenges common assumptions about mission and ministry. He invites pastors and churches to rethink how they approach their neighbourhoods—not as outsiders bringing Jesus in, but as co-labourers discovering Jesus already at work.Key Takeaways:Why Jesus is already present in places we think we’re bringing Him toHow churches can faithfully serve their neighbourhoods without pride or superiorityThe vital connection between prayer, justice, and community transformationWhy the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety—but connectionHow pastors can move from isolation to deep, sustaining relationshipsWhether you serve in an urban, suburban, or rural context, this conversation will inspire you to embrace a deeper call to prayer, presence, and pastoral health.BiographyAaron White is the National Director of 24-7 Prayer Canada. He has been a pastor, missioner, justice worker and prayer instigator in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver for the past 16 years, where he lives with his wife and four children in a community home. He is the co-author of Revolution and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Kingdom of God; co-creator of The Creative Way Down discipleship resource; and author of the upcoming book Recovering: From Brokenness and Addiction to Blessedness and Community.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Show Notes⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

How should the Church respond to racism with both gospel conviction and cultural humility?In this honest and timely conversation, Ho-Ming Tsui, Lead Pastor at Richmond Hill Christian Community Church, joins Jason Ballard to reflect on pastoring in the wake of the Stop Asian Hate movement and the Atlanta shootings. With personal stories and theological depth, Ho-Ming unpacks how he led his congregation through grief—not just with statements, but with space for lament and prayer.He shares his own experiences with racism growing up in rural Saskatchewan, offers wisdom on what true multicultural ministry requires, and explains why gospel transformation is the only way to address racism from the inside out.Key Takeaways:The difference between making a statement and creating space to grieveWhy gospel transformation is key to confronting racismWhat it really takes to reach new cultures as a churchA vision for unity in the Canadian Church built on friendship and humilityThis episode is a rich encouragement for pastors and leaders navigating issues of race, justice, and unity in their churches and communities.BiographyHo-Ming is the Lead Pastor of Richmond Hill Christian Community Church, a multi-generational, multi-lingual church just outside of Toronto. He completed his undergraduate degree at Queen’s University, and went onto graduate studies at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. Ho-Ming speaks frequently at conferences in Toronto and has traveled to Asia, Europe and Africa to teach as well. He is an avid guitarist and loves all things sci-fi. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Katie, they have three children.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Show NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

What anchors a pastor when leadership gets hard—and how do you know you’re truly called?In this honest and insightful episode, Jon Thompson, Lead Pastor of Sanctus Church, joins Jason Ballard to explore the foundations of pastoral calling. Drawing from biblical models and his own journey, Jon outlines four distinct ways God calls leaders and why knowing yours changes everything.He shares how his early assumptions about calling were reshaped by scripture, why love and obedience are central to sustaining ministry, and how clarity of calling brings freedom from comparison.Key Takeaways:– The 4 biblical models of calling and how to identify yours– Why clarity in calling brings spiritual authority and longevity– How love and obedience protect and sustain your ministry– The freedom that comes when you stop comparing callingsThis episode offers pastors and leaders a fresh framework for understanding their calling—and an invitation to walk with confidence in what God has uniquely assigned them to do.Biography Jon Thompson serves as the Senior Pastor at Sanctus Church (formerly C4 Church), just outside of  Toronto, Canada.  He has been on staff for more than 20 years. Sanctus is a regional church with a community of over 3,000 people that gather in multiple locations in the Greater Toronto area. Under Jon’s leadership, Sanctus is characterized by dynamic Biblical teaching, vibrant community groups, compelling media and powerful times in worship.  Jon has a Masters of Theological Studies from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto and a Doctorate of Missiology from Fuller Seminary, California.  Jon is husband to his wife Joanna and Father to three kids - Hannah, Emma and Noah.PartnersWe couldn’t do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.Show NotesWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠